ARC vs. Pasadena City College

Comparable Facts

Compare American River College in Sacramento, CA with Pasadena City College in Pasadena, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

American River College is larger than Pasadena City College based on total student enrollment (30,462 students vs. 24,597 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• American River College is located in Sacramento, CA (Large Suburban setting); Pasadena City College is in Pasadena, CA (Midsize City setting).
• American River College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Pasadena City College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: American River College 29:1; Pasadena City College 23:1.

ARC vs. Pasadena City College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ARC or Pasadena City College? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Pasadena City College than ARC ($6,888 vs. $9,488).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Pasadena City College are 12% lower than at American River College ($19,431 vs. $22,086).
• American River College is 9.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Pasadena City College (about $108 more per year; $1,288.00 vs. $1,180.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 28.5% higher at ARC than at Pasadena City College (about $2,796 more per year; $12,616.00 vs. $9,820.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at American River College than at Pasadena City College (89% vs. 78%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Pasadena City College students is 23.9% larger than aid received by American River College students ($6,759 vs. $5,456).

ARC vs. Pasadena City College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, ARC or Pasadena City College? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Pasadena City College and ARC.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: ARC - Open admission; Pasadena City College - Open admission.

ARC vs. Pasadena City College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ARC and Pasadena City College? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Graduates from Pasadena City College earn a median of about $1,300 more per year than ARC graduates about ten years after starting college ($37,900 vs. $36,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Pasadena City College graduates have a $6,733 lower median loan debt than ARC graduates ($5,500 vs. $12,233).
• Among borrowers, Pasadena City College graduates have an estimated $70 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than ARC graduates ($56 vs. $126).
• More Pasadena City College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former ARC students, three years after graduation. (36% vs. 26%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.